Domain Day ICANN and Reform Tuesday, 5 November 2002 Milan, Italy Theresa Swinehart, Counsel for International Legal Affairs, ICANN

Overview l Key Stability Goal: Get a unique and predictable result any time from anywhere in the world l Presentation covers – History and Mission of ICANN – How ICANN Works – ICANN Reform

History and Mission of ICANN

The Evolving Internet l Originally primarily academic & research –Domain Name System launched in 1984 –Coordinated by one man: Jon Postel l Internet commercialized in –Web follows –Seismic events l Rapid changes –Spectacular growth –Charging for domain names –More than a mnemonic: surrogate keyword –DN: identifier --> identity –Cybersquatters and trademarks –Civil libertarians –National interests: resentment of role of USG l Too hot to handle

Birth of ICANN l Public/Private Partnership –Forum to leverage entire Internet community –All constituencies –Private sector, governments, technical etc l Privatize and Internationalize –A global Internet –Global policies l MOU with US Government (Dept of Commerce) –Checklist of tasks l A public/private partnership not a government

ICANN and USG  USG White Paper: new DNS policy & management structure must promote Stability, Competition, Private, bottom-up coordination, Representation  Eventual transition to centralized coordination functions  ICANN and USG MoU -- Renewed in September 2002  Captures existing relationship  Continued focus on existing tasks, with greater USG commitment to assist in completion

OrganizationWhat does it do?Who participates? Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Global coordination of Internet’s naming and addressing systems Technology companies, ISPs, technical engineers, security experts, registries and registrars, country code registries, governmental representatives, academic institutions, civil society organizations, intellectual property interests International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Specialized UN agency for coordination of the global telephony system Governmental representatives, telecommunications providers and equipment manufacturers World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Specialized UN agency to promote protection of intellectual property rights Governmental representatives, legal experts Internet Society (ISOC) Voluntary membership association that promotes “Internet for everyone”, discussion of Internet issues, support for Internet Engineering Task Force Free individual membership, organizational members, local chapters

ICANN’s Mission l Coordinate stable operation of Internet’s system of unique identifiers l Coordinate allocation & assignment of three systems in particular –Domain names (the “DNS”) –Internet protocol addresses and autonomous system numbers –Protocol port and parameter numbers l Coordinates the operation and evolution of the DNS’s root name server system. l Coordinates policy-development as necessary to perform these functions

What ICANN is NOT l Technical Standard-Setting Body l Internet Police Force l Consumer Protection Agency l Economic Development Agency l Legislature or Court l It does not deal with e.g., content, spam, commercial transactions, etc.

ICANN Evolution and Reform

Evolution and Reform l Very fast moving arena l Natural need for some amendment of the model as change takes place l Increased role for Governments through the GAC l Outreach and regional program

Evolution and Reform l Shanghai Board Meeting Adopted Bylaws –Structural differences and Stronger public/private partnership –Board of 15 –Advisory Committees: Governmental Advisory Committee; Security and Stability Advisory Committee; Root Server System Advisory Committee; At Large Advisory Committee; Technical Liaison Group –Supporting Organizations: GNSO, [ASO], [ccNSO] –Ombudsman l Implementation of transition and adopted bylaws at December ICANN Board meeting.